I realize it is best not to get a refund. My point was more that 32% of my income has been withheld, and none of that 32% is coming back to me. It's a
true 32%.
As far as housing goes...I'm actually in the market right now, so I've been looking. In my neighborhood, thing are REALLY bad.
I did a search on
www.realtor.com in my zip code just last week. In the 90025 zip code, the least expensive single family home was $519,000. It was a small 2bed 1bath.
Rentals aren't very good either. My brother has been looking. A standard 2bedroom apartment. Nothing huge, or super nice goes for about $1000-1300. Anything less than that is a pretty old, well worn building.